PDF

The Hand Waving "Hello!"


by Carl Santoro


I, on the south Nepal river bank,

watch as my son shouts across from 

our rooftop on the north side.

His arm waving, "hello, I'm here, I'm safe!"

as the house collapses, crumbles and melts

into the dark, icy water monster

racing by like a many-headed serpent,

the hydra of Greek mythology.

The hand waving "Hello!"

became the hand waving goodbye.
Endcap